Storm coach Craig Bellamy blasts last-gasp penalty to Titans

Roy Ward

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has blasted a last-minute penalty as “disgraceful” after it gave the Gold Coast Titans a match-winning penalty goal at AAMI Park on Sunday.

The controversial penalty on 150-gamer Ryan Hinchcliffe and Cameron Smith, for scraping the ball out from Luke Douglas, gave Titans star Greg Bird a chance to win the game with a penalty goal from 32 metres out with 19 seconds left, which he converted to give the Titans’ a 28-26 win in front of 11,930 fans.

Storm fans booed the referees as they left the field with replays seemingly showing Douglas had dropped the ball rather than had it removed from his grasp.

Bellamy, who also gave his own players a scathing critique for their poor defensive play, said the referees’ final decision had taken the game from his side.

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“It’s a Melbourne crowd but I think most people would be reasonably upset with that penalty,” Bellamy said.

“It was the fifth tackle – I would be very very disappointed if one of my players tripped that ball in the fifth tackle in that situation.

“I’ve watched it a couple of times, to me it was a disgraceful decision, if I’m wrong I’ll apologise but to me it was a real bad call.”

The Storm continued to play inconsistently, struggling to put pressure on the Titans defensively, and letting in five tries as the Melbourne team lost its second straight game after winning the first three.

Bellamy and Smith both blamed the Storm’s attitude for defensive struggles.

“It’s about doing our jobs thoroughly, it’s like we have taken a few short cuts at times and are looking for the easy option,” Bellamy said.

“There hasn’t been a whole heap of improvement the past couple of weeks, we have to keep working at that.”

Bellamy said the aftermath of the broken neck suffered by Newcastle’s Alex McKinnon was horrific for the side while Smith said the Storm still had to focus on its job of winning matches.

A first-half double to winger Sisa Waqa had the Storm well in the match but the Titans were able to respond as tries from Kevin Gordon, Brad Tighe and David Mead allowed them to lead 14-12 at half-time.

Titans half-back Albert Kelly showed cat-like reflexes to intercept a Ben Hampton pass at his own 40-metre line and sprint in for a try after just four minutes of the second half to extend the visitors' lead to 20-12.

The Storm responded to Kelly’s try in the best way as Smith ran through an opening then found Cooper Cronk, who drew in the last defender and offloaded to Kenny Bromwich to make it 20-18 with eight minutes of the second half gone.

But Storm’s penalties and lax defence allowed the Titans to extend their lead to 26-18 after Mead’s pass opened the way for Mark Minichiello to score.

Once again the Storm rebounded with Smith’s long-kicking pushing them back into the Titans’ half then his cut-out pass setting up the drive. Will Chambers scored in the right corner to cut the margin back to 26-24 with 20 minutes to play.

Then with eight minutes left Smith kicked home a penalty goal to tie scores at 26-26, and only the controversial penalty would separate the sides at the final siren.

Titans coach John Cartwright said his team had paid a price for their win with Tighe injuring his AC joint while scoring his try.

The Storm hosts St George Illawarra Dragons at AAMI Park next Monday night at 7pm.